[TheForge] Moloch, pickle problem

[Cindy and James]

Moloch,

I have a 25 # Moloch, when it does the bang/tap, I tighten the hammer 
guides (the parts that are on each side that the parts slide in).  They 
always work loose after a while.   Or, depending on the size work I am 
doing, I will raise /lower the hammer on the flywheel.  Good luck.

Andy,

On the flux, I have had that too.  I asked about it at the SCABA conf 
and was told to use vinegar.  I have been trying it with varying 
results.  It will also rust your metal, as will muratic and various 
other things.  I got the flux crap from using borax on a piece of a door 
I am building.  You can order a needle scaler from harbor freight, but 
the one I got from Northern tool (pistol grip type) hits a LOT harder 
than the in-line type I got from HF, about $30 each.  And, the needles 
on the one from HF are blunting, the other ones do not, although they 
are wearing some (I use it a lot, esp for applying light texture to very 
hot metal)... come to think of it, that may be the reason the HF one is 
blunting and the other one is not... I've been using the pistol grip one 
on hot stuff whereas the HF one I use primarily on weld scaling, hot but 
cherry red.

The flux is tough to get rid of, sometimes, not always.  I would 
appreciate knowing how/why etc. and a good way to get rid of it on large 
scale projects.

James Allcorn
Bois D'Arc Forge Blacksmith Shop
Paris, TX